Motor-car signal



N. T. BROWN.

MOTOR CAR SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.20, 191s.

Patented July 20, 1920.

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N. T. BROWN.

MOTOR CAR SIGNAL.

APPLICATION. FILED FEB. 20, 1918.

Patented J uly 20, 1920.

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NEWMAN '1. BROWN, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

MOTOR-CAR SIGNAL.

Application filed February 20, 1918.

nals, of which the following is a specifica-.

tion.

This. invention relates to signals for motor cars and other vehicles;and it proposes a device or mechanism of the general class or typespecified embodying certain improvements, hereinafter fully described,by, or as a result of, which the signal proper may be readily swung intoand out of operative position and, when in the former position, isilluminated by a suitable lamp, the light rays of which are visible fromfront, back and side of the car. The invention is preferably of a duplexcharacter, in so far as it contemplates the provision of one of theabove described signals at each side of the car, thereby enabling thedirection in which the car is about to turn, or its stoppage, to bereadily determined, according as one signal or the other is operatedindividually, or both are operated simultaneously.

According to the invention, there is mounted in a casing arranged ateach side of the car and partially closed by a pivoted 7 side plate, asignal arm which is slidably carried by said plate so as to moveoutwardly and inwardly therewith during the movements of the arm. Theplate itself is connected with an actuating segment, which is arrangedwithin the casing and connected in turn with an operating device, therebeing, of course, one of these operating devices for each'signal arm.The operating devices themselves are so constructed and arranged thateither may be actuated independently of the other, according to thedirection of the contemplated turn, or both may be actuatedsimultaneously when the car is about to be stopped. The particularstructural details of the above described parts or devices, as well astheir relative position and arrangement, constitute the importantfeatures of my invention and will be explained in due course and setforth in the appended Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1920. Serial No. 218,277.

claims. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is notlimited to the pre cise details shown and described, excepting asspecified in the said claims, but, on the contrary, that modificationsand changes may be made within the scope of said claims, and that partsof the invention may be used either by themselves or with parts of adifferent character from those disclosed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a fragmental side elevation of a motor car, with partsbroken away for the sake of clearness, showing the invention in use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the signal in its normal orinoperative position. F 1g. 3 1s a horizontal section on line 33, Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the signal in itsextended or operative position.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal, vertical section on line 55, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View, showing the carrier for thesignalarm.

Figs. 7 and 8 are, respectively, a side elevation and a plan view of thedevice for controlling the movements of the carriers.

Referring more particularly to said drawing, 1 indicates, generally, anelongated casing which is secured horizontally to the side of thetonneau of the car by suitable brackets 2, which latter may well extendbeneath the upper edge of the upholstery, as shown. It is intended, ofcourse, that there shall be one of these signal-containing casings ateach side of the tonneau, but for illustrative purposes, it is deemedsufficient to represent one only; and in any case, a description of onewill apply to both. The casing 1 includes an elongated, verticallydisposed back plate 3 formed with upper and lower out-turned marginalflanges 4 which gradually increase in width from their rearends to apoint adjacent their front ends, and then decrease from such point totheir lastnamed ends.

The two horizontal flanges 4 are provided, adjacent their inner edgesand substantially at the point of greatest width just referred to, withbearings in which are mounted the ends'of a vertical pivot bolt 6 whichis set comparatively close to the car side. To this bolt are connected apair of spaced ears 6, formed upon the free edges of the front member 6of an angular, vertical plate 6 the rear member 6 of which-hasintegrally connected to it a rearwardly-extending wing 6", which, whenthe said plate is in normal position, is located below the free outeredges of the flanges 4c. The bolt 6 may be rigidly fastened to saidflanges at, and the ears 6 loosely mounted on it, or, if preferred, itmay be loose in said flanges and rigidly attached to said ears. Theplate extension'b has fastened to it one end of an outwardlyswingingarni 5, which forms a substantial closurefor the open side of thecasing, said arm 5 having its upper and lower marginal edges providedwith angular flanges 10, which serve to materiallystrengthen it and alsoas guides for a sliding signal arm 11 which is carried in this manner bythe arm 5 and has its outer end 12 shaped as an arrow head. i Theportion of the open outer side of th casinginadvance of the arm 5 isclosed by front and rear plates 7 and 8, the former of which is fixed inany suitable manner to said casing and has its rear edge out centrallyaway to form a pocket 7 for the reception I of a central, projectingtongue 8' provided hail, rain and the like, the front plate 7 reon thefront edge of the plate 8, the two plates 7 and 8 being connected atthis point by a vertical hinge bolt or pintle 9, so as to enable thetongue end of the plate 8, to move inwardly of the casing, while itsrear end swings outwardly thereof and is provided with a cross-strap 1awhich extends across and is connected to the adjacent end of the signalarm. The arrangement is such, therefore, that when the plates 7 and 8are in their normal positions, the entire front of the casing will beclosed to exclude snow,

maining closed under all conditions so as to constantly preclude theentry of dust, d rt, gravel, 'etc., into the front of the casing whilethe car is in motion. \Vhen the signal is operated, however, in themanner subsequently'explained, the'plate 6 will'swing bodily outwardupon its pivot 6, and will rock the plate 8 with it in the samedirection about its pivot 9, the rear end of the latter plate movingoutward of the casing and the short rear end moving inward thereof, asrepresented in Fig. 4t.

The movements of the angular plate 6 may be effected with the aid of anymeans or device desired; but it is preferred to'make use of a wire,cable or other flexible element 16, which passes around and is securedat one endto a grooved sector 15, the other end of the cable leadingthrough a suitable guide tube 'l T passing between the side'of the carand the upholstery and extending entire distance from the signal arm tothe subsequently described control. As two signals, one at each side ofthe car, are'preferably employed to indicate the direction in'which thecar is about to turn, it is essential, of course, to provide meanswhereby either signal may be operated independently of the other, orbothmay be operated simultaneously in case it is desired to indicatestopping of the car. In the embodiment illustrated, which may beregarded for all practical purposes as preferred, there is one of thesectors 15 for each cable, as will be understood, each sectorbeing-integrally oro'the'rwise rigidly connected to the lower edge ofthe front member 6 and adjacent ear 6" of the corresponding an tivepulley and, inconsequence, wind up the respective cable to shift thecorresponding signal outward.

In order to enable both pulleys 18 to rotate at the same time and,hence, to swing both signal arms outward simultaneously, there ispreferablyutilized a third lever 20, which is arranged between the twolevers 19, (which are disposed in spaced, parallel relation, as depictedin Fig; 8), and is provided adjacent its inner end with a bridge piece21,v which spans the two pulleys is so arranged as to turn them both atthe same time when the lever 20 is depressed.

To return the various parts to their respective initial positions,any'desired means or devices may be employed, the returning devicespreferably consisting, however, of a spring 22 for each sector 15, whichis anchored at its rear end to the back plate 3 of the casing and isattached at its front end to a brass strip 23, which runs along thebottom flange or wall of the casing and passes beneath and is secured tothe sector.

Finally, each casing is preferably equipped with an electric lamp 24,having associated with it a reflector 25 and being disposed'within'asuitable electric circuit 26, which is closed by a switch 27 of somekind. According to the preferred form of the invention, the lamp 2 1 andits reflector 25 are disposed'in line with a cut-away portion 28 of thewing 6 of the angle plate 6 and, also, with an opening provided in theplate 7 at the point 7', one due to the tongue 8 of the plates movinginwardly into the casing as the main'rmrtthereof swings outward,'and theother produced by cutting away part of the casing, as indicated at 29;In thisway,

' beyond both sidesof the signal arm; thus displaying the position ofthe latter to persons standing both in front and at the back of the car.In addition to the above, the wing 6 of the plate 6 which assumes aposition transverse to the casing when the signal arm is extended, isprovided with a pane of transparent ruby glass .30, through which thelight rays pass when said wing occupies its normal position, therebyenabling the light to shine through the far end of the casing.

I claim as my invention 1. A turning and stopping signal, comprising acasing having a movable closure; a signal in said casing mounted on saidclosure; means for opening said closure; and means for automaticallyprojecting said signal when said closure is opened longitudinally of andbeyond the outer end of the closure.

2. A turning and stopping signal, comprising a casing having anoutwardly-swingmg closure; a signal mounted slidably on said closure andnormally housed in said casing; means for swinging said closureoutwardly; and means for automatically sliding said signallongitudinally of and beyond said closure when the latter is so swung.

3. A turning and stopping signal, comprising a casing having anoutwardly-swinging closure; a signal mounted slidably on said closureand normally housed in said casing; means for swinging said closureoutwardly; and means connected at one end with said signal and at itsother end with a point spaced laterally from the pivot of said closure,thereby to slide said signal beyond said closure when the latter isswung outwardly.

4. A turning signal, comprising a casing having an outwardly-swingingclosure formed with parallel guide and renforcing flanges along its sideedges; a signal arm received normally in said casing and supportedslidably by said flanges; means for swinging said closure outwardly; andmeans for automatically sliding said signal arm an end andlongitudinally of said closure when the latter is so swung.

5. A turning signal, comprising an elongated back platehaving outwardlyextended flanges along its side edges; an outwardlyswinging, pivoted armbetween the outer edges of said flanges and extending substantiallythroughout the length thereof, the pivot of said arm being spacedinwardly from one end of said flanges; a signal arm mounted slidably onthe inner side of said pivoted arm; a plate pivoted between said flangeswith its free end adjacent the pivoted end of said pivoted arm; meansconnected with said plate and attached to said signal arm for projectingthe latter when said pivoted arm is swung outwardly; and means for soswinging said pivoted arm.

6. In a'turning signal, a casing open in part along one side, a pivotedarm operating in the opening of said casing side, a plate pivotedindependent of the arm and 0011- nected to the latter and having one endclosing one end of said casing opening, and means to operate the arm.

7. A turning signal, comprising a support; an arm pivoted to saidsupport to swing outwardly therefrom; a lamp fixed to the support behindthe pivot of said arm for illuminating both sides of said arm when thelatter is extended; and means for swinging said arm outwardly toextended position.

8. A turning signal, comprising an arm to be projected beyond the sideof the vehicle; and a fixed light mounted independently of the arm andlocated at the inner end thereof for illuminating both sides of said armwhen the latter is extended.

9. In a motor car signal, the combination of a casing; a pivotallymounted carrier within said casing; a signal arm associated with saidcarrier to move therewith outward and inward of the casing; said carrierin cluding a member having a pane of ruby glass set thereinto; means foractuating said carrier; and illuminating means, including a lamparranged to project its rays through said ruby glass to be visiblethrough the end of the casing.

10. In a motor car signal, the combination of a casing; a pivotallymounted carrier within said casing; a signal arm associated with saidcarrier to move therewith outward and inward of the casing; andilluminating means, including a lamp arranged to project its rays alongboth sides of said signal arm when the latter is in projected position.

11. In a turning signal, a casing having an opening in one side, asubstantially Z- shaped member pivoted at one end in the casing, asignal arm operating in said opening and borne by the other end of saidmem her, and means to operate said member.

12. In a turning signal, a casing having an opening in one side, asubstantially Z- shaped member pivoted at one end in the casing, asignal arm operating in said opening and borne by the other end of saidmember, and a plate pivoted to one side of the pivot of said member andconnected at one end to the last named end of the member and having itsother end providing a closure for the adjacent end of the opening.

13. In a turning signal, a casing having an opening in one side, asignal arm pivoted to the casing for closing one end of the openingthereof when the arm is in inoperative position, a plate pivotedindependent of the arm for closing the opposite end of the opening,means to operate the. arm into and out of display position, and means toactuate the plate by the arm movements.

14;. In a turning signal, a casing, a pivoted member in the casing, alamp to-one side of In testimony whereof I have hereunto set the pivot,a Slgl'lillibllll carried by the memmy hand in presence oftwosubserlbing .W1ther and arranged to extend radially oi the nesses.

lamp when in display position, and awin- NEWMAN T. BROWN. 5 dew formedin the member to allow the lamp \Vitnesses:

to illuminate the side vof the arm adjacent R. R. HUBBARD.

the member pivot. KATHRY N. WVILLAN.

